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Becoming Ultra

Becoming Ultra is all about that first Ultra. We follow other runners training for their first Ultra, interview race directors of Ultra's, talk training tips, and just about anything for that next, very long, step.
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Now displaying: Category: My First Ultra
Jan 17, 2023

Jennifer E. Rizzo is an ultramarathon runner and award-winning writer from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Her work has been published by Vanity Fair, Motherwell Magazine, and Moms Don’t Have Time to Write. She is a wife and mom to two humans and one dog and is trying to tame a newly adopted semi-feral cat.

We love a guest that when you are chatting it feels so comfortable and authentic. Jennifer is very honest about what it takes to balance family, career, and ultra-running. She shares what ultra-running adds to her life and how she uses it in all areas to improve. On this podcast we get into the hard choices it takes to accomplish your goals. We also talk about Jennifer’s 2021 and 2022 Riverlands 100 attempts. This is a great story! Jennifer shares her experience of crewing for a blind runner and how that has impacted her life.

IG - @jennifererizzo

Jan 10, 2023

Dusty Hardman was born and raised in New Jersey and lived in Boulder, CO and Victor, ID. She started running in Teton Valley, ID around 2007. Inspired by an interview with Lisa Smith-Batchen in Running Magazine Dusty started running. Starting with a marathon and within two years tackling the Bear 100 in Utah. Having health issues, it took Dusty a while to dial in her training, medications, and overall health. It didn’t take Dusty long to start tackling amazing adventures such as the Barkley Marathons, Badwater 146, Vol State and running across Florida from Coco Beach to Withlacoochie Bay on the Florida Trail. Dusty is one of only a handful of people to complete Badwater 146 and only the second woman. Dusty is inspired by all the amazing ultra-runners she has met and feels honored to toe the line, hang out with or even have so much in common with all of them. 

Dusty is one of those amazing unassuming athletes that you probably have never heard of. She has been setting big goals and having incredible adventures for a long time. On this episode we talk about what led Dusty to three Barkley Marathon attempts and the Badwater 146. Dusty also shares some great stories about meeting her ultra-running role models along the way.  We discuss health struggles and how that has affected her training and mindset. This one covers a lot; you will enjoy getting to know Dusty.

www.toughlovetraining.net

Jan 3, 2023

Matt Fitzgerald is an endurance sports author, coach, and nutritionist. His many books include The Comeback Quotient, 80/20 Running, and The Endurance Diet, How Bad Do You Want It and his latest book, On Pace, Discover How To Run Every Race At Your Real Limit. Matt’s writings have also appeared in numerous magazines, including Outside and Runner’s World, and on popular websites such as podiumrunner.com and nbcnews.com.  He is a cofounder of 80/20 Endurance  and the creator of the Diet Quality Score smartphone app. A lifelong endurance athlete, he speaks frequently at events throughout the United States and internationally. 

We always love talking to Matt. He has so much knowledge, we are always grateful to learn from him and share with you. On this podcast we discuss his latest book, On Pace, Discover How To Run Every Race At Your Real Limit. We talk about all things pacing, including: 

  • The inspiration for the book
  • Three key mental traits
  • Why pacing is so difficult
  • Do GPS devices help us or hurt us
  • Perceived effort
  • The mental side of pacing
  • How pacing applies to ultra-running

This book is a great reference book to have on hand. Grab a copy and enjoy the podcast!

Every runner stops getting faster at some point, but pacing is something that any runner can get better at indefinitely.

The true winner among competitive runners is not the swiftest but the happiest, and the happiest runner is the freest runner, and the freest runner is the runner who has most fully mastered the art of finding his or her limit.

 

Book available at:

80/20books.com

Mattfitzgerald.org

80/20endurance.com

Dec 13, 2022

Tracie Hunter is a certified running coach and business owner of IRG Training.  She has been running since the 90’s, and just completed her 30th marathon and 4th world major marathon at the Abbott World Age Group Championships in London.  She has also completed 2 ultra-marathons: a 50 miler and 100k and would like to someday complete a 100 miler.  She has been running for over 25 years, but her fastest marathons have all come in the last year.  

Tracie has been running marathons for years (she ran Boston 6x’s) and she is getting faster. We discuss how she has changed her training to make that happen and how her training has evolved as she ages. Tracie shares stories about some of her favorite marathons as well as where she is running next. Tracie is also a running coach and shares with us the joy and motivation that brings into her life. Getting older doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get slower.

IG- @indianarunnergirl

Dec 6, 2022

Makinsie Bartholomew came from a background of triathlon. In high school she did swim team and track & field, and a handful of sprint triathlons. After graduating in 2011 she competed in half and full Ironmans. Makinsie completed her first Ironman in 2014 and then her first 50-mile ultramarathon in 2015. She had never done any trail races further than 13 miles and jumped straight to 50 miles. She has completed 4 Ironmans, 10 Half Ironmans, a 50-mile ultramarathon and the Bigfoot 200. Makinsie has a very supportive family and has her Dad to thank for getting her into trail running, together have been able to do some great ultramarathons. 

We have so many wonderful conversations but this was one of my favorites. Makinsie has an amazing attitude and a lot of grit. She takes us through her 2022 Bigfoot 200 finish with all the highs and lows that came along with it. Makinsie credits her Dad for getting her into trail running and shares many stories of their adventures together. We also talk about DNF’s in a positive light. We wrapped up the podcast and kept talking. We recorded this one on a Friday morning. It was a great way to kick off the weekend. Enjoy!

Find her incredible race report for the Bigfoot 200 here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TaqjqtoNnoqAiuClvqxGYFIHM9hqpnteyEJEzU3t4ds/mobilebasic

IG - @imkinsie

Nov 29, 2022

Andrea Casella Kooiman is an avid runner with over 150 marathon and ultra-marathons under her belt. Some of her accomplishments include the Boston Marathon, Grand Slam of Ultra-running (4 oldest trail 100’s in one summer), Badwater 135 three times, Western States twice, HURT 100, UTMB, Vol State 500K, taking 3rd place overall. Andrea is also one of the founders of WeRock, a program created as a response to the challenges faced by the Orange County communities’ young people. It is an educational, after-school, intervention program for Middle and High School students focused on the endurance sport of running. She is also the executive director and head coach; she considers some of her greatest running accomplishments watching as the kids cross the marathon finish line year after year. It is her solid belief that everyone can and will achieve all their wildest goals and aspirations if they can first visualize themselves in that position. She is on a mission to HUG the world and assist others in becoming their own Superheroes.

Start asking yourself why not me. This is a question Andrea always asks herself and she has accomplished some amazing things. We loved talking to her about her adventures, coaching her kids and life in general. This woman is full of joy, optimism, and fun. We talked about the Barkley Fall Classic and moving on to attempt the Barkley Marathons (watch for her name). Andrea lights up when discussing WeRock, she talks about how it started and what she has gained from coaching. We also get into some great Badwater stories and how she balances everything from family life to the big races. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

IG- @runcoachkrun

 

Nov 22, 2022

Gary Cantrell also known as Laz Lake is the creator and race director of two of the hardest ultramarathons in the world, the Barkley Marathons and the Big Dog Backyard Ultra. He also created the Barkley Fall Classic, Strolling Jim 40, the Vol-state 500k, and the epic virtual team event, the Circumpolar Race Around the World. Gary is also a husband to Sandra who he met in college and a father to three grown children. Before retiring in 2011, he was an accountant for 35 years.

Well, this was a whole lot of fun! In this episode we chat to Laz about the early ultra-running days, the inspiration for all his unique races, and his trans-continental walk across the US. Laz has some great Barkley Marathon stories to share. You are sure to learn a few things about the Barkley’s you may not have known. We learn what Laz has planned next, the current Barkley theme, and how to get a Geezer hat. This one is full of great stories, encouragement, and lots more. Gary Cantrell aka Laz Lake is truly a legend in the Ultra-running world. We had the best time meeting him. Enjoy!

Nov 18, 2022

Fresh off of completing an epic 100 miler in an amazing way, Scott joins us to recap the experience!  When Scott decides to do something, it is never simple or easy and this is no different!  We talk all about Band of Runners, the news season of Becoming Ultra, and the upcoming BU events across the globe!

 

https://www.bandofrunners.org/

www.becomingultra.com 

Nov 15, 2022

Demarion & Carlita Farmer are married with two young children ages 2 & 4, they also own a small business. Recently they started training for and ran their first ultra in 2021. This is a story of inspiration on so many levels.

Couple goals! These two are conquering all kinds of goals and supporting each other 100%. This was a fun, enlightening, and inspiring conversation. Demarion & Carlita could have so many excuses to not train and work hard towards their goals, but they do not focus on excuses. They have learned the value in believing in themselves and helping each other. On this episode we talk about what prompted them to get into ultra-running and how they balance the training with a young family. We also discuss diversity in ultra-running and the impact they have made on their local community. There is lots of good stuff in this one. We could have talked to this awesome couple for hours. There is nothing better for us than starting our day with lots of laughs and some great conversation.

Nov 8, 2022

Lucja Leonard is a Dutch-born Aussie-Brit currently residing in the USA. Wife to Dion Leonard, and Fur-mama to Gobi and Lara, check out 'Finding Gobi' the NY Times bestselling book for more details on that side of her life. 

Lucja is an ultra-runner but has not always been one! After becoming overweight in her early 20's Lucja took up running to become a healthier, fitter version of herself and after running her first road marathon, Amsterdam in 2010, she discovered a love of going long and went on to run the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon; a 6 stage, 7-day self-sufficient multistage ultra-marathon through the Kalahari desert in northern South Africa where she fell in love with ultra-running. 

Lucja has since gone on to run a multitude of multistage and single stage ultras with the likes of Marathon Des Sables, Leadville 100, Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, Mohican 100 and even 200+miles non-stop with Bigfoot200 and Moab 240. Most recently she tackled the TransRockies Race, a multistage ultra in Colorado with her friend, Amanda, running as a pair with 120miles and 20,000ft over 6 days as 'Team Granny Pants' where they duo came third open female team.

Lucja is also a running and health coach and can be found traveling all over the USA, exploring the most amazing places while working alongside her husband Dion, and his book 'Finding Gobi' with inspirational talks at corporate events, schools, libraries and running stores.

Amanda Asher is a single mother of 3 teenagers (son 17 and twin daughters 15) and 2nd grade elementary school teacher who started ultra-running in 2016 when she tackled her first 50k in Huntsville, Tx – Rocky 50. Since that time, she has taken on dozens of races across Texas, ranging anywhere from 13 milers to 100k’s. Shortly after completing her first 50k, Amanda ran her first mountain race in 2016 when she took on the Pikes Peak Ascent, followed by the Leadville Trail marathon in 2017. Most recently Amanda competed in her first team relay alongside her daughters as they raced the clock during a 12-hour relay at Spider Mountain in Texas. The 3 of them along with one additional teammate – placed 1st female team. Amanda used this race in May as a training run for her most recent endeavor that took place in Colorado – the Transrockies Stage Race – Amanda, alongside her teammate Lucja Leonard, managed to take the podium 4 out of the 6 days. Placing 3rd overall for the week. When Amanda is not busy raising her 3 teenagers or working on lesson plans for her second graders, she can be found solo backpacking all over the U.S., completing various sections of the CDT, John Muir Trail, AT, and hundreds of miles of loop trails, within Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. 

It is always a fun time when Lucja is involved. We loved this conversation with Lucja and her adventure buddy, Amanda. These ladies tell us all about tackling the Transrockies stage race together and how they came up with their team’s name, Granny Panties, it is a great story!  Amanda talks about finding balance with adventuring, raising three kids and work. When you hear her talk about it you will think it is possible for you too. Lucja shares her latest adventures and what she has coming up. These ladies are big supporters of each other and other women. I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!

Nov 1, 2022

Pamela Chapman is a 66-year-old ultra-runner, cancer survivor, nurse anesthetist and inspirational speaker. At the age of 19 she was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live. When she outlived the diagnosis, she was told she would never be able to have children. She gave birth to three daughters and raised them as a single mother. After her children finished college and began lives of their own, Pam looked for things to fill her time. She rode a Harley on the weekends, became a licensed sailboat captain, learned to surf in Costa Rica, then ran a 100-mile race. Pam never ran in a foot race of any distance before the age of 55; not even a 5k. Her first race ever was the 100-mile Rocky Racoon Ultra in 2011. Since then, Pam has completed in over 68 ultra-marathons including, Badwater 135 five times. She holds USA records in her age group for 24 hours, 48 hours, 100 miles, and 100k, in the 2019 Six Days in The Dome 24 hour race she came in 1st female and 2nd overall.

Pam is a true legend! This talk was so empowering and positive.  Pam discusses the many challenges she has had during her life.  She has overcome them with a strong faith and the ability to always be grateful. Her story is truly amazing. We chat about how her running career began. We also discuss taking on those big races including the Badwater 135 five times. Pam is also a champion for women, she is determined to prove that age should not define what you can do. When I think of a strong woman role model it is Pamela Chapman that comes to mind.

Oct 25, 2022

Jennifer was never an athletic kid, always picked last at PE, made fun of for her weight, struggled with body image and eating disorders in high school through grad school eventually gained a lot of weight in college, decided to start running her junior year and gradually worked up to her first 5k two years later, then ran her first marathon a few years after that.  She ran on and off for the next 10 years and trained for her first ultra-distance. After having her son, she jumped back into running, but found out she had a torn labrum in her left hip, had surgery followed by a  long rehab, eventually she switched to trails and ran more ultras including a 50 miler.

 

Jennifer’s transition into photography began when she met her friend Kristy through a FB group, started pacing her at Ornery Mule Racing events and  took cell phone pics of her while at races. The RD would frequently repost her pics  and eventually offered to hire her to photograph some races. Jennifer gradually took over photographing all of their races as well as some in other states. Health issues have prevented Jennifer from training for her own races, so this is a way for her to stay involved in the community.

Jennifer has the most amazing attitude and the way she deals with setbacks is inspiring.  We talk about Jennifer’s ultra-marathons and the Barkley Fall Classic. We discuss her many injuries and how she always reinvents herself to stay involved in a community she loves.  Jennifer’s transition into photographing races is a great story. “It’s never too late to go for a big dream – don’t be the obstacle”.

Jennifer is also a contributor to Silent Sports Magazine and Ultra Runner Magazine.

@luoyunghwa

Oct 18, 2022

Colleen Rue is a 2x Ironman finisher, Ultra-marathoner, marathon maniac and an endurance fanatic. She is a wife and mother of two teenagers and has 20+ years’ experience as a coach, personal trainer, and instructor in the fitness industry. Known as the Voice of the Mountain at 29029 Everesting events, she has been all over the US as a host, emcee, and race announcer. Colleen has an ability to connect people with brands and events in a way that fosters personal growth and develops bonds for life.

Be brave and do not be afraid of no.  Wise words from Colleen, and words that have served her well.  This was such a fun conversation for us.  Colleen is so genuine and open; we could have continued this conversation for hours.  Colleen shares her journey to becoming the voice of the mountain for 29029 Everesting events and the voice of Vacation races.  We also talk running ultras and Trans Rockies and so much more.  Colleen has several ultras under her belt and lots of great stories.  We know you will enjoy Colleen as much as we did!

IG: @colleenrue 

      @voiceofthemountain

FB: @colleenrue

Web: raceannouncing.com

Oct 11, 2022

Rebecca Roehm never dreamed that she would be running for the fun of it. Growing up in Ohio, she played basketball and tennis and always considered running as a punishment. In 2016, the only open treadmill at the gym jump started her foray into running. With the help of a friend and a new pair of running shoes, Rebecca signed up for her first 5k. Less than 18 months later, Rebecca found herself as one of the featured runners on Season 4 of Becoming Ultra where she completed the Minnesota Voyageur 50 miler.

The experience of the Becoming Ultra project has led Rebecca to continually challenge herself. One of the lessons she took away from the experience was that it is important to do hard things. When asked why she runs ultras she responds, “If you aren’t challenging yourself, you aren’t growing as a person.” Some of her notable races include the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Zion 50k, Bandera 100k, the Javelina Jundred 100 miler, and most recently the Last Annual Vol State 500k. 

When Rebecca is not working or running, she is traveling with her husband, volunteering, and co-leading the local Portland Oregon chapter of Trail Sisters. One of her passions is increasing the participation of women in sports, especially trail running. She hopes that her experiences as an athlete can inspire others to try something new and do hard things.

We had a lot of fun talking to our friend, Rebecca.  This lady is one of the most supportive people we have ever met. She embodies everything the Becoming Ultra community stands for.  Rebecca takes us from her first Ultra, a 50 miler to most recently the Vol State 500k and everything in between. She talks about chasing cutoffs and not getting discouraged by finishing DFL or even a DNF.  She is wise enough to know there is value in every experience.  Listening to Rebecca will inspire you to do something big!

Oct 4, 2022

Caitlin grew up in Oakland, CA and now lives in San Francisco, CA with her boyfriend, Daniel after going to college in the Midwest. She grew up playing soccer, then rugby, then discovered Australian Rules Football after graduating from college in 2015. She made the national Australian Rules Football team in 2019 and was going to compete in Australia in 2020 in the International Cup, but then COVID shut the world down.  The outdoors have always been a huge part of Caitlin’s life. Her parent’s first took her backpacking when she was 3 years old and did numerous trips in the Sierra Nevada’s that Caitlin eventually came to love (although at first, she thought her parents were torturing her and depriving her of a normal childhood). She discovered distance running in 2014 when she was training to hike across Spain but didn’t have the time to go on longer hikes so resorted to running. In 2016, she came to the realization that you can not only hike on trails, but you can also run on them! She ran her first trail marathon in 2017 and applied to Becoming Ultra at the end of 2021 right after she had foot surgery for a foot injury that had sidelined her from running for a year and a half. Since then, she’s re-fallen in love with trail running and has found amazing communities though Becoming Ultra and Trail Sisters. She’s run two 50Ks, an “ultra” Ragnar, and has her first 50-mile race in Oregon in early July. 

Ever wonder where exposing your children to the great outdoors can lead?  Caitlin grew up with parents who exposed her to lots of camping, hiking, and backpacking in amazing places.  It is so fun to hear her talk about her adventures throughout her life, which includes a very special hike with her Dad.  Caitlin shares her experience with training for her first ultra and the disappointment of dealing with an injury.  We also discuss her first 50-mile race at Mt. Hood (that she crushed by the way).  This is a fun, feel good episode.  I will leave you with one of Caitlin’s favorite quotes that I cannot stop thinking about.  “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”. 

Sep 27, 2022

Cale came to running as he signed up for his first sprint triathlon in 2011. He hated running and only ran when it involved team sports. It took several years to enjoy running as he often worked only on speed and trying to be faster. This often resulted in nagging injuries that curtailed his running. This cycle repeated itself until becoming selected for season 11 of Becoming Ultra. Learning the reasons behind different types of runs was critical. It allowed him to keep running and build up strength and stamina. He is a father of two boys Colin age 17 and Ian 15. Cale and Meghan will be celebrating 20 years of marriage on July 6th, 2022. Being able to share their long runs together is a big part of their relationship and helps them get out and enjoy Central Oregon and all its beautiful surroundings. Cale is passionate about developing leaders outside of running. He has two companies that he runs-Crestcom which is a leadership development franchise and B2B Transportation which is a full-service freight brokerage. He has coached youth basketball since 2011 and loves the game. 

Meghan picked up running when her kids were young. She would put them in the jogger, give them their snacks and drinks and hit the road! She has always been active and often attended group fitness classes prior to picking up running. She is an amazing wife and mother to two boys aged 15 and 17. She has a magnet on her fridge that she lives by."I create peacefullness in my mind, and my body reflects this peacefullness as perfect health." She enjoys cooking and helping her family lead a healthy lifestyle. She has been a nurse her whole life and currently works in ICU . She applied to Season 9 of Becoming Ultra and was not selected. It turned out to be a great thing because Cale and her both applied to Season 11 and were selected to run their first Ultra at Desert Rats 50k in April of this year. She finished her first Ultra in just over 7 hours. She loved it so much she signed up for season 12's event to cheer and support them in their journey to complete their first Ultra. She recently set a PR in a road half of 1:51:47 and beat Cale who also PRed at 1:53:46. She is sneaky fast when she wants to be. She will tell you she is not competitive but every now and then it comes out and she starts taking souls out on the course!

Meghan and Cale recently completed R2R and are looking at when they will do R2R2R or R3. They are signed up for Jacks 50K race in Florida and look forward to supporting season 12 runners on their inaugural 50k.

We had such a great time catching up with our friends Cale and Meghan.  They are another awesome couple we met through the Becoming Ultra Community who share the love of trail running together.  We talk about their ultra-journey and the impact it has had on both their family life and careers. Cale talks about how his job stress was the catalyst for a life change.  I was personally so inspired by this.  Cale and Meghan have a very supportive relationship.  Hearing them talk about how they balance everything will make you feel empowered. Meghan also shares how she keeps peacefulness in her life.  This one will leave you feeling encouraged and motivated.

Sep 20, 2022

Gina Lucrezi is a professional ultra-trail runner and the founder of the Trail Sisters Community and on line journal. She is a huge advocate for promoting women’s trail running and outdoor activity. She loves sharing her thoughts and experiences through words and photographs. Gina holds the women’s FKT on Mt. Whitney’s standard route, is a USATF Trail 10k Champion, 2012 Team USA 1st place world long distance champion, and 2x winner of the Leadville Silver Rush 50 miler and a 5th place finish at CCC 100k.

A true champion for gender equality in the sport of ultrarunning.  Gina has a great spirit and is fulfilling her mission to increase women’s participation and opportunity in trail running and hiking through inspiration, education, and empowerment.  We covered so much on this one.  Listen to Gina share about the Trail Sisters Community from the start and how it has impacted her life.  We also talk about Gina’s rich running history and current 100-mile goals.  There is a lot to unpack in this one.  I will leave you with some words of encouragement from Gina written after our podcast. Take a bet on yourself!


Yesterday I had the opportunity to be interviewed by the lovely ladies of My First Ultra podcast (it was a blast!). One of their final questions was, "What special message would you like to share with listeners?" This is usually a toughie...as multiple things come to mind, and I'm a talker :)

I decided to speak about the practice of building confidence, and remembering to take a bet on yourself. Like anything else we do in life, practice makes perfect. We repeat a process, learning what works (and doesn't), and fine tune it. Building one's confidence takes that same repetition and fine tuning! Every day, focus on one action that reminds and strengthens your belief in yourself. This does not have to be running related...just something you enjoy and can demonstrate your capabilities.

A daily practice of positive reinforcement will build that "I Can!" attitude, and sets you on a path for stronger confidence in whatever may come your way!

IG - @ginalucrezi

trailsisters.net

Sep 13, 2022

We want to inspire you today with someone special. When most people hear the name Mickey Maurer it is related to business or writing because he has had much success with both.  But today we are going to talk about adventure, giving, and happiness, areas where he has also had much success.  I have had the pleasure of getting to know Mickey over the last 17 years.  We may have bonded over being persuaded to represent our age brackets at the Corporate Challenge in the running events over the years. Mickey is one of the most positive, giving, and energetic people I know.  Mickey Maurer’s career as an attorney, author and entrepreneur has included cable television, film production, radio broadcasting, publishing, real estate, and banking. Mickey is an active participant in numerous business, civic, educational, and philanthropic organizations.  In 2001, Mickey established Mickey’s Camp, a charitable endeavor that has raised over $3 million  for central Indiana charities. Recently he traveled to Poland to help with the Ukrainian refugees. Some of Mickey’s hobbies include mountain climbing, having successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, skiing, and underwater photography. At 80 years old he doesn’t seem to be sitting idle. 

What a fun conversation we had with Mickey. Mickey is a person that is always learning and using his skills and knowledge to help others.  On this podcast we talk about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu twice.  We had a heartfelt conversation about his recent trip to Poland to help with the Ukrainian refugees.  This was my favorite part of the podcast. According to Mickey one of the keys to happiness is to stay curious.  There is definitely some inspiration and wisdom here.  Stay curious friends!

Sep 6, 2022

Dreama Walton is an experienced mountain athlete with hundreds of miles spent in the Alps, multiple ultra-marathons in the desert landscapes of the Canary Islands, and day to day training in the upper altitudes of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, she is well aware of the kind of innate desire and commitment it takes to be an endurance athlete. She knows what an important role diet before, during, and after training and competition play in overall wellbeing. She has experienced firsthand the limitations placed on her with poor hydration, using ill designed equipment, and a lack of a level head when things don’t go as planned. She has accepted that running during bad weather is her way of paying dues for running during the good days. Running on no sleep rewards her by letting her see pieces of this planet that most people will only have the opportunity to see on the discovery channel. Pushing her body and mind allows her to see what the human animal is capable of when she reaches the end of a challenging race. The elation she feels when the race is done is the reward for hours, days, and weeks of training. This is why she loves ultra-running so much. It allows you to see that the only limits we have as humans we place on ourselves. Dreama is also a mother to an amazing little girl and loves showing her that we can do difficult things and that if she wants something bad enough, she too can put in the work to achieve it.  

On this podcast Dreama talks about some of the struggles she has faced in her life and how they shaped her strong work ethic as a runner and in life.  We also discuss balancing being a single parent and chasing big goals.  Dreama is a very strong mountain climber so of course we had to talk nutrition. We felt so inspired after talking to Dreama.  She has found a nice balance and figured out how to keep the focus on happiness and love.  We are excited to follow along with her summer adventures!

 

IG- @dreamawalton

Aug 30, 2022

Hannah Allgood is originally from Wisconsin but has lived in Colorado Springs since 2016 with her husband Gil and vizsla, Gunner. She works as a pediatric sports medicine physical therapist at Children's Hospital Colorado and began trail running in 2019 because of Gil. That same year she ran her first 50k, The Dirty Thirty. Hannah enjoyed the 50k-100k distances the most, but is looking forward to eventually running a 100 miler. She holds the course records for the Fall Back Blast 50k, Indian Creek Fifties 55k, and Gorge Waterfalls 100k. When she is not running, she enjoys hiking with her dog, baking desserts, and reading. The thing she loves most about trail running is being outside for long hours with her friends. 

This was a fun conversation; Hannah is full of positivity and energy.  We discuss how she has evolved as a trail runner since her first race in 2019.  We also talk about self-doubt and importance of believing in yourself. We dive into the impact coaching has had on her, both mentally and in running. We chat about the importance of strength training.  Hannah takes us through her recent Gorge Waterfalls 100k win.  Hannah is one to watch, she has some big things coming up.  I loved this quote from her “later becomes never” she definitely embraces that.

IG - @shesallgood21

 

Aug 23, 2022

Alexa Hasman lives in Portland, Oregon and is a mom to two small humans, ages 5 and 7. She owns a coaching business called Fit Life which she opened in 2014. She likes to make each of her clients feel special and empowered as they work towards their goals. She also owns a race company with her business partner, Zina. They purchased it a year and a half ago and just kicked off their second season of races. The company is called Gorgeous Relay Series and they do one day relays in the most beautiful parts of Oregon. They can also be run as ultras, as a single person team and that is something Alexa is most passionate about growing for this business. Alexa is currently finishing her dual masters in exercise science and sports psychology and will then be pursuing her PhD in sports psychology. In her free time, she is a passionate ultrarunner with a love for the longer and more mountainous races.

Did you ever meet someone that felt so familiar?  That is how we felt when talking to Alexa.  We had a great conversation about how she is using her coaching business and race company to empower women.  You feel her passion for this when she speaks.  Alexa is also a busy mom of two young children.  It is always interesting to hear how inspiring women balance priorities.  We also discuss her recent 100 miler and the community she has embraced and is working to build.  We recorded this one on a Friday morning.  It was the best way to kick off the weekend! 

IG - @alexahasman
Owner/Coach: @fitliferunlife
Owner/Race Director: @gorgeousrelayseries
•ultrarunner •vegan athlete •mom
Aug 16, 2022

Christy has been playing sports since she was a young girl and carried her love for Soccer into high school where she played Varsity and was captain her senior year. She absolutely hated running and can remember barely finishing the one mile run during try-outs. Fast forward a few years, Christy continued playing on co-ed leagues, and stayed semi active, but soon after she married her husband, got pregnant with her first daughter, Emma, and two years later, had her second daughter Carleigh. After her second daughter, she started to run more to get back into shape, and when she was finally hitting her groove, BAM, she found out she was pregnant with baby number 3. Baby 3 would be the turning point of her entire life, where she soon found out at 20 weeks that her son, Alex, had Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and would later pass away at 24 weeks pregnant. After losing Alex, Christy created a social media page called All For Alex where she set a goal to run 100 miles in July to honor his short life. This page allowed the community and even people from around the world to join in with this July goal and friends, families and strangers were flooding the page with running pictures in July in honor of Alex.  Since that day, Christy hasn't slowed down...well actually she did when she got pregnant again in September with identical twin boys who were born that following May. 

Lauren first started running in 2015 after a tragic house fire. She was living in an apartment where she found the apartment gym one day and would run to relieve the stress. When the stress or anxiety would consume her, she started to hit the pavement and never looked back. Lauren continued running throughout the years, finished her first half marathon,  and even while pregnant with her daughter in 2021, continued to run and stay active . Christy and Lauren have always been super close, but when Christy moved on the same street as Lauren, they started to chat more about crazy challenges which one would always convince the other to do. 

They have both ran at least one race a month for over two years, completed the 24-hour Yeti ultra-challenge, and they just completed their first 12 hour ultra this past August. 

We had a blast hanging out with Christy and Lauren.  We discuss their super fun Instagram.  They talk about how it keeps them motivated and accountable.  We also talk about balancing family, work and staying healthy.  They have some great advice for those of us trying to find balance.  Their support of each other is really special.  They are very different runners but always work together to achieve big goals and keep each other going.  We love these stories of support.  Enjoy!

 

IG- BecomingUltraMoms

Aug 9, 2022

Angela Tortorice lined up for her first marathon in support of her former husband, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997. Since then, she has taken part in 999 marathons across North America and all 50 U.S. states. Through this journey, she has raised over $170,000 for MS. On April 2, 2022 she finished her 1,000th marathon at the Irving Marathon in Irving, Texas making her the youngest woman to complete 1,000 marathons, at the age of 54 years old. She also holds the record for most marathons run in a calendar year but a woman (129).

Most people have running one marathon on their bucket list.  Running 1,000 seems unimaginable to most people but Angela is not like most people.  On this podcast she talks about why the marathons and raising money for Multiple Sclerosis is so important to her.  We also talk about how she has managed her life to achieve this huge accomplishment.  She also shares some mental tricks that have come in handy over the last 25 years. Angela is proof that if you are committed and passionate about something you can accomplish big things.  

 

www.rtdtexas.com

Aug 2, 2022

Hey friends, we are back for another season!  Catch up with us after our month off and let's chat about some upcoming guests!

Jun 28, 2022

Zoe is a Colorado based writer and trail runner. Southern storyteller turned mountain dweller, she starts every day with a cup of strong coffee and a good story. Her work has appeared on NPR, in REI Co-op Journal, Discover, Rock & Ice, Trail runner, Backpacker, and Threshold Podcast. Zoe merges her passion for storytelling with her love of trail running in her work as an editor at Trail Runner magazine. She currently hosts and produces the DNF podcast from Trail Runner magazine. Her trail running accomplishments include 1st place at the Crested Butte 100k, Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon and two consecutive wins at the War Eagle 50k. Her running and coaching are powered by the belief that with smart, efficient training and enough self-belief earth is 97% runnable. 

I can’t think of anyone else who finds as much joy in running as Zoe.  Her motto is pay attention to the things that make you feel joyful and run towards them.  We had so much fun talking with Zoe. We talk about how she juggles running, writing, and podcasting and stays present.  Zoe tells us why she always knew she would be a writer. We talk about how she found her way to running and the parallels between running and writing.  Zoe in Greek means full of life, and we think it describes her perfectly.

IG- @carrot_flowers_z

https://www.trailrunnermag.com/collection/the-trail-runner-podcast

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